National Forests in North Carolina

Day Hiking

For many, exploring a trail is the best way to enjoy the national forests in North Carolina. With more than 1,600 miles of trails, a variety of opportunities await you - from short, easy walks to long-distance backpacking adventures.

For many, exploring a trail is the best way to enjoy the national forests in North Carolina. With more than 1,600 miles of trails, a variety of opportunities await you - from short, easy walks to long-distance backpacking adventures.

Day Hiking Areas

District Office, recreation sites, and select roads closed due to Hurricane Florence. Call (252)638-5628 for more information.

Welcome to the Croatan National Forest, one of four National Forests in North Carolina and the only true coastal forest in the East. The Croatan National Forest's 160,000 acres have pine forests, saltwater estuaries, bogs and raised swamps called pocosins. Bordered on three sides by tidal rivers and the Bogue Sound, the forest is defined by water.

All this water provides a variety of recreation and diversity of wildlife- from deer, black bears and turkeys to wading birds, ospreys and alligators. Canoeing and fishing are popular on blackwater creeks and saltwater marshes. The Croatan is also home to the carnivorous Venus fly-trap, sunder and pitcherplant.

The Croatan National Forest has one Ranger District, the Croatan Ranger District. Please contact the District for more information.

Camping and Day-use Information

Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Croatan National Forest can be found here.

Recreation Maps

Be Safe

The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

The Cedar Point Recreation Area, near the mouth of the White Oak River, is surrounded by a salt marsh and a coastal forest. The salt marsh, where fresh water meets salt water, stretches out like a sea of grass. This nutrient-rich wetland is a valuable "nursery" for commercial seafood, including fish, shrimp, crabs and oysters.

A small-craft boat ramp and fishing pier provides easy access to the river and its bounty. The shallow water is suited to flat-bottom boats. Canoes and kayaks can navigate the maze of canals through the salt march. From the boat ramp, paddle around the point, then pass under the boardwalk of the Tideland Trail. Be aware of the tides; an extremely low tide can leave some canals dry. The loop is shown on the map is about 2 miles and can be completed in half a day.

The campground has 40 sites with electrical hookups, a bathhouse with flush toilets, warm showers, drinking water and a ramp for shallow water boats. Picnic tables are nearby. The Cedar Point Tideland Trail crosses boardwalks to explore the salt marsh and the life above and beneath.

Welcome to the Nantahala National Forest! The Nantahala National Forest lies in the mountain and valleys of southwestern North Carolina. The largest of North Carolina's four National Forests, the Nantahala encompasses 531,148 acres with elevations ranging from 5,800 feet at Lone Bald in Jackson County to 1,200 feet in Cherokee County along Hiwassee River. The Forest is divided into three Districts, Cheoah in Robbinsville, NC, Tusquitee in Murphy, NC, and the Nantahala in Franklin, NC. All district names come from the Cherokee language. "Nantahala" is a Cherokee word meaning "land of the noon day sun," a fitting name for the Nantahala Gorge, where the sun only reaches to the valley floor at midday.The Nantahala National Forest was established in 1920 under authority of the 1911 Weeks Act. This act provided authority to acquire lands for national forests to protect watersheds, to provide timber, and to regulate the flow of navigable streams. In the Nantahala National Forest, visitors enjoy a wide variety of recreational activities from whitewater rafting to camping. With over 600 miles of trails, opportunities exist for hikers, mountain bikers, horse-back riders and off-highway vehicle riders.

Camping and Day-use Information

Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Nantahala National Forest can be found here.

Recreation Maps

Be Safe

The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

The Cheoah Ranger District has 120,500 acres in Graham and Swain Counties. These lands surround four large mountain reservoirs and contain numerous streams. Fishing, boating, whitewater rafting, hunting, hiking, and viewing fall colors are some popular activities. From the Cherohala Skyway, you can enjoy mountain vistas. The Appalachian Trail and other trails make up a network of some 320 miles that cross the district. The district offers trails for horseback riders, mountain bikers, short-distance hikers, and backpackers. Several lakeside, streamside, and scenic developed campgrounds, and picnic areas provide a variety of outdoor experiences.

The Cheoah River, located near Robbinsville, NC, is a nine-mile section of waterway between the Santeetlah Dam and Lake Calderwood. Typical water flows average 250 cubic feet per second (cfs), but approximately 20 times per year Brookfield Renewable Resources, Inc. releases water from the dam to mimic natural flood events to benefit a variety of endangered and threatened species that live in the river ecosystem. A secondary benefit of these releases is the recreational opportunity created by the release of approximately 1000 cfs of water, resulting in a Class IV-V whitewater run while water is being released. The US Forest Service currently permits three authorized outfitters to provide rafting opportunities during river releases, and many private boaters also use the river during these releases.

There is one primary put-in access site, two secondary access sites, and a river takeout site located at Magazine Branch on Calderwood Lake. The Cheoah River is unusual for rivers of its volume in the Southeast in that its gradient is relatively constant. This means that it is unusually continuous, more so than anything else with a similar volume of water in the Southeast. It is a whitewater run that should only be attempted by advanced to expert paddlers with the proper safety equipment and watercraft with a minimum of four internal air chambers or hard bottom canoes or kayaks, and only after careful consideration of all river hazards. The Cheoah River is one of the most difficult, technical rivers in the Southeast during high flow events. The rapids are large and continuous, with numerous hydraulics, rock ledges, vegetation, and other river features that can make self-rescue and extraction difficult. Do not attempt to float the Cheoah River during high flow release events unless you possess expert boating skills, are experienced in self-rescue in Class IV-V whitewater and using the proper gear and safety equipment, and only after a careful analysis of the river features and your own personal skill level.

Fishing on the Cheoah River is considered excellent for smallmouth bass by either fly-fishing or spinning reel with light tackle. The Cheoah River also offers brook trout, rainbow trout, and largemouth bass. Hiking trails in the vicinity include the Appalachian Trail, Benton MacKaye Trail, and numerous hiking trails in the nearby Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness. The Tapoco Lodge, built in 1930 by the Aluminum Company of America as part of hydroelectric efforts in Graham and Swain counties of North Carolina, is located on the banks of Cheoah River.

For hikers and backpackers, the Joyce Kilmer Slickrock Wilderness presents a variety of recreational hiking opportunities. There is a relatively easy two-mile long Memorial Loop Trail in the Memorial Forest, which annually greets more than 35,000 visitors, or there is a complex of hiking trails that cater to more experienced hikers, such as the 13.3 mile long Slickrock Creek Trail, considered as one of the ten toughest trails in the United States. With a 3,700 foot climb overall and 13 stream crossings, this trail is seldom completely traversed, but used in conjunction with the other trails in the Wilderness to provide excellent backpacking trips.

Other than at trailheads, camping is allowed anywhere within the Wilderness using Leave No Trace principles, but given the steepness of the topography, there are a few relatively heavily used back country camping areas. Many fishermen enter the Wilderness from the north using the Slickrock Creek Trail, Ike Branch Trail or hike down to the creek from Big Fat Gap, camping along the creek. Backpackers use the area at Naked Ground on the southern ridge, and there is an area near the Hangover that offers excellent views, but an unreliable water source. Nichols Cove area has good camping spots with abundant water, and some hikers camp near Wildcat Falls, but long sections of the various trails lack suitable spots for camping.

As a designated Wilderness, there are no trail blazes, just signs at trail junctions, so it is essential that hikers carry maps and compass, and know how to use them. It is not uncommon for very experienced hikers to get “confused” for a while in the creek area due to the multiplicity of real trails, unofficial trails, old logging trails, etc. Along the ridge, the trails are well-defined, but physically demanding.

A bit larger than 8,000 acres, the Snowbird Area is protected as a Wilderness Study Area. Frequently used by fishermen, and less so by backpackers, this roadless area encompasses the entire upper watershed of the creek, including the major tributaries Sassafras Branch and Meadow Branch. The Snowbird Creek watershed is well-known for its trout fishing. The Bemis Hardwood Lumber Company logged the valley in the early 1930’s. Because of its low value at the time, most of the hemlock was left, and magnificent specimens, though dying, are scattered throughout the watershed. Some large American chestnut trees remain at the upper end of the valley. Above High Falls, the creek supports a reproducing population of native brook trout. Hooper Bald, one of the largest balds in the Southeast, lies adjacent to the upper boundary of the area. Also near the top of the area is McGuires, site of an old hunting lodge. The pens still stand from which Russian wild boars escaped into the neighboring mountains. The area has several beautiful waterfalls. Camping is allowed anywhere except at the trailheads, but Leave-No-Trace Principles should be followed to protect the pristine creeks.

Follow the Trail.The Tsali (pronounced “SAH-lee”) Recreation Area’s four-loop trail system has become a popular destination for mountain bikers and horseback riders. It is best known as a challenging mountain bike course.

The Right Loop, rated moderately difficult, offers 13.9 miles of single track, with shorter 4- and 8-mile loops possible.

The Left Loop, rated moderately difficult, is 11.9 miles of single track with views toward the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Fontana Lake.

The Mouse Branch Trail, rated moderately difficult, is 8.7 miles of single track and includes old logging roads.

The Thompson Loop, rated moderately difficult, is 7.3 miles of single track.

Hikers may travel the trails on any day, but mountain bikers and equestrians–the primary users–are kept separated by alternating days on the trails. Be sure to follow the trail schedule:

Jan./Feb./March/April/June/Sept./Nov./Dec.
Right Loop and Left Loop:

Horses – Tuesday , Thursday, & Saturday

Mountain Bikes –Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Sunday

Mouse Branch and Thompson Loop:

Horses – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday

Mountain Bikes – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday

May/July/August/October
Right Loop and Left Loop:

Horses – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday

Mountain Bikes – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday

Mouse Branch and Thompson Loop:

Horses – Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday

Mountain Bikes – Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Sunday

There is a per-person day use fee for trail use. Fees can be paid at either the Tsali Bike or Horse Trailheads.

Sleep under the Stars.Open early April through October,Tsali Campground offers 42 campsites on a first-come, first-served basis. Many sites accommodate small RVs, but no hookups are available. Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post. Accessible flush toilets, hot showers and drinking water are available. Campers pay fees at the campground fee station.

Get in the Water.Fontana Lake offers flatwater paddling and motor boating. One boat launch is located at Tsali, while another is located nearby on FR 2553 at Lemmons Branch. Ample parking is available at either launch. Fishing is permitted year-round, and anglers will find some of the best fishing for walleye in the state. Anglers can also catch black bass, crappie, catfish and white bass.

The Nantahala Ranger District stretches 250,000 acres across Macon, Jackson and Swain counties offering a variety of recreational opportunities from camping to off-highway vehicle riding. This District is a diverse, rugged, and mountainous area with raging rivers, granite walls, and waterfalls. Visitors can enjoy the remoteness of the Southern Nantahala WIlderness, a scenic drive along the Mountain Waters By-way or a view Whitewater Falls, the highest falls east of the Rocky Mountains. The Nantahala is also home to four long distance trails, the Appalachian, Bartram, Foothills, and Mountains-to Sea Trails. Come experience the outdoors and explore the Nantahala! Nantahala Ranger District, 90 Sloan Road, Franklin, NC 28734, (828) 524-6441

This 158,900-acre district lies in the far southwestern tip of North Carolina in Cherokee and Clay Counties. The Tusquitee District has three large lakes that offer a variety of recreation. Two major rivers, the Hiwassee and Valley, provide canoeing. Three reservoirs in beautiful mountain settings provide a playground for recreation enthusiasts. Hiwassee Lake, Chatuge Lake, and Appalachia Lake offer boating, water skiing, fishing, and swimming, as well as a quiet place to relax and enjoy nature’s wonders. Chatuge Lake is excellent for sailing. The Hiwassee and Appalachia Lakes are located west of Murphy, along the Hiwassee River. Chatuge Lake spans the Georgia-North Carolina State line, south of Hayesville. For camping and picnicking, four areas are available.

This remote area offers excellent trout fishing, picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, and camping. The 25-mile Rim Trail in the Fires Creek Backcountry Area, is a hiking trail, however, some trail sections are open to horses. As the name implies, the Rim Trail climbs the ridge around Fires Creek and makes a large loop. The trail offers vistas as it crosses several highelevation balds. Located on Fires Creek, Bristol Campground has nine sites, a vault toilet, and accomodates horse campers. Huskins Branch Hunters Camp offers primitive camping. From the Leatherwood Falls Picnic Area, a 0.7-mile loop goes to Leatherwood Falls.

Hanging Dog Campground will not re-open. For more information see this news release.

Day use facilities on Hiwassee Lake remain open.

Just five miles from Murphy, N.C., Hanging Dog Recreation Area is a great destination for a scenic drive or for a day outing with family and friends.

Get in the Water. Hanging Dog Recreation Area offers year-round access to Hiwassee Lake. A popular place for fishing and boating, you’ll find plenty of places along Hiwassee’s 180-mile shore to relax and cast a line. From June through October, launch your motor boat from the ramp at the end of State Road (SR) 1447. Between the months of November and June, Ramsey Bend boat launch on FR 652F, approximately 1.5 miles off of SR 1447, provides deep-water access. Water skiing and kayaking are also popular on Hiwassee Lake. For an adventure, try kayaking on Hiwassee River and Lake between Murphy and Hanging Dog. An accessible fishing pier, to the left just before the end of SR 1447, offers additional angler access. There are no swimming facilities at this recreation area.

Practice these safety tips when enjoying water activities:

Wear a life jacket

Never go boating under the influence

Supervise children

Learn CPR

Learn safe boating practices

Check out the Sites. View the scenery from a picnic table overlooking the lake. A large pavilion provides a place for groups to gather for a meal. Restrooms with vault toilets are nearby. Stretch your legs and explore the forest along two 1-mile trails. The Mingus Trail starts at the upper boat ramp parking lot and ends at a trailhead shared with the Ramsey Bluff Trail off SR 1447. Ramsey Bluff Trail offers views of Hiwassee Lake. If you are interested in Cherokee Indian history, imagine the village that once lay where the lake is now. In the 1830s, the historic Trail of Tears passed nearby.

Follow the Trail. In the Hanging Dog area, there are several opportunities for mountain biking. Hike or ride your mountain bike on the moderately-difficult Ramsey Bluff Mountain Biking System that provides 8 miles of trails. Plenty of trailhead parking is provided at the end of SR 1447.

Open May through September, Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation Area lies on a peninsula of Lake Chatuge – a TVA reservoir that boasts more than 130 miles of shoreline. This destination recreation area offers a large campground and numerous day use activities such as swimming, picnicking, mountain biking and hiking trails, fishing and motorized boating access to the lake.

Sleep under the Stars.Three campground loops offer 92 wooded sites, most of which provide views of Lake Chatuge. Several sites in Loops A and B can accommodate RVs, but no hook-ups are available. Registered campers may access the on-site RV dump station. Reserve a site at visit www.recreation.gov or by calling (877) 444-6777. A few sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Each campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and lantern post. Accessible flush toilets, hot showers and drinking water are available. In the campground, a large picnic pavilion offers lakeside views and room to gather.

Follow the Trail. Ride your mountain bike along the area’s 15-mile stacked-loop system. Many of the trails border Lake Chatuge, while others meander through the woods or ridge-top. These trails appeal to riders of all skill levels.

If you are interested in hiking, try the Jackrabbit Mountain Trail. With a trailhead just outside the campground, this 2.4-mile easy trail loops through open woods and offers glimpses of Lake Chatuge.

Get in the Water. At Jackrabbit Mountain Recreation Area, a designated swimming area and sandy beach are surrounded by picnic tables on a large grassy lawn. A picnic pavilion offers group picnicking with views of the lake. A short trail connects the campground and beach. The lake is filled with a bounty of fish ranging from spotted, white and striped bass to catfish, crappie and sun-fish. Launch your boat and fish from the lake, or try the accessible fishing pier located near the swim beach.

Don’t have a boat? There are several marinas to rent boats and other small craft. For details, call the Clay County Chamber of Commerce at (828) 389-3704.

The Pisgah National Forest is a land of mile-high peaks, cascading waterfalls, and heavily forested slopes. Comprised of over 500,000 acres, the Pisgah is primarily a hardwood forest with whitewater rivers, waterfalls and hundreds of miles of trails. This national forest is home of the first tract of land purchased under the Weeks Act of 1911 which led to the creation of the national forests in the eastern United States. It is also home of the first school of forestry in the United States, now preserved at the Cradle of Forestry in America historic site, and boasts two of the first designated wilderness areas in the east. The Pisgah, Grandfather and Appalachian Ranger Districts are scattered along the eastern edge of the mountains of western North Carolina and offer visitors a variety of opportunities for outdoor recreation and enjoying the natural beauty of the mountains.

Camping and Day-use Information

Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Pisgah National Forest can be found here

Directions to Frequently Requested Places

Be Safe

The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

Welcome to the Appalachian Ranger District of the Pisgah National Forest. The Appalachian Ranger District consists of Pisgah National Forest lands that stretch westward from the Great Smoky Mountain National Park's eastern boundary to Craggy Gardens on the Blue Ridge Parkway to Roan Mountain near Tennessee. Elevations range from 1,900 feet at Max Patch to 6,684 feet at Mount Mitchell. Our district office is located at 632 Manor Road, Mars Hill, NC 28754. The phone number is (828) 689-9694. Our fax number 689-9762. The office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00a.m.-4:30p.m.

The Big Ivy, Coleman Boundary area is located on the Appalachian Ranger District near Barnardsville, NC. "Ivy" is the local name for the mountain laurel shrub.This area is beautiful, remote, mountain land with more than 30 miles of trails that you can hike, bike and ride horses.

The South Toe River area is on the Appalachian Ranger District near Burnsville, NC. This area includes the Black Mountains, the Blue Ridge, and the headwaters of the South Toe River. The Black Mountains, capped with a forest of red spruce and Fraser fir, are named for the resulting dark color. Along the South Toe River, you can camp, picnic, fish, swim, tube, bike, and horseback ride.

Flat Top Mountain is located in Yancey County, NC. Three different hiking trails travel through woods of poplar, oak and maple. These trails provide beautiful views of the Unaka Mountains, the Nolichucky River Gorge and its sheer rock cliffs. Named for its unique topographical shape, Flat Top Mountain is a series of mountains that level out and appear flat on top, though its elevation is 4,469 feet high. The Devil's Creek and Lost Cove trails are best known for providing access to the Lost Cove community, developed in the 1900's for establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Railroad. Though it has been a ghost town for decades, several remaining structures and a cemetery can still be seen and accessed from the trail. Also, accessed from the Lost Cove Trail is a place called Joe Lewis Fields, named after the earliest settler in the area. The coordinates for Flat Top Mountain are as follows: N 36.02'54" and W 82.24'31".

Harmon Den is on the Appalachian Ranger District in the vicinity of exit 7 off of I-40. The area is a haven for hikers and horseback riders. It offers 54.5 miles of trails with 14.2 miles of trails designated for horseback riding and 40.3 miles for hiking.

The French Broad River and Appalachian Trail travel right through Hot Springs making the town a haven for hikers, rafters and other outdoor enthusiasts. The Hot Springs area features 44 miles of trails with 13.4 miles designated for mountain biking.

The Shelton Laurel Backcountry area located in Madison County, NC is a unique part of the Appalachian Ranger District. It consists of undisturbed hardwood forests, rhododendron thickets and is full of coves, tributaries and serene mountainsides. This area provides 14.7 miles of combined hiking on five different trails, many of which intersect with loop options, and access the Appalachian Trail, as well as, Jerry Cabin Shelter. Enjoyable during all seasons, the Hickey Fork and Jerry Miller trails provide views of waterfalls and cascades in higher elevations, and are especially scenic in the late spring when the mountain laurel and rhododendron are in full bloom. Whiteoak Trail travels through beautiful hardwood forests, and in the winter provides beautiful views of the Baxter Cliffs.

Famous for its spectacular natural gardens of Catawba rhododendrons, Roan Mountain shelters a rich diversity of life, from spruce-fir forests to vast grassy balds.

Roan Mountain is actually not one mountain, but a high ridge about 5 miles long. It ranges from a height of 6,286 feet at Roan High Knob to a low of 5,500 feet at Carver’s Gap. No one knows the origin of the mountain’s name. Some claim the name refers to the roan or reddish color of the mountain when rhododendrons bloom in June or the mountain ash berries appear in September. Others say the name comes from Daniel Boone’s roan horse, because he and his horse were frequent visitors.

The lands that make up the Grandfather Ranger District are those public lands that run from the McDowell/Buncombe county line on Black Mountain just east of Asheville over to US 321 between Lenoir and Blowing Rock. The Blue Ridge Parkway forms the northern boundary of the district. The Grandfather Ranger District began under the Weeks Act with the purchase of an 8,100acre tract in 1912. Now, the district covers over 192,000 acres.Enjoy your visit!

The Linville Gorge Wilderness, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, is part of the Pisgah National Forest. The gorge is formed by the Jonas Ridge on the east and Linville Mountain on the west and is bisected by the Linville River which drops 2,000 feet into the valleys below. The terrain is steep and rugged with numerous rock formations. It is covered by dense hardwood/pine forest and a wide variety of smaller trees and other plants. Recreation opportunities include hiking backpacking, rock climbing, fishing and hunting.

A free camping permit is needed on weekends and holidays May through October. Group size is limited to 10 persons. Each visitor or group may receive one weekend permit per month and may stay up to 3 consecutive days and 2 nights.

The Pisgah Ranger District is home to many waterfalls, scenic views, and miles of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails. Bordering Transylvania, Buncombe, and Haywood Counties, Pisgah Ranger District is a short drive from Asheville, Hendersonville, Brevard, and Waynesville. Lake Powhatan Recreation area and Bent Creek Experimental Forest are also included in the Pisgah District, providing visitors with more recreation opportunities.

Established in 1927 to study rehabilitation of cutover, degraded forests, Bent Creek is the oldest experimental forest in the East. The area is now used to research current issues that threaten or enhance the health and productivity of forests.

Middle Prong Wilderness area is 7,900 acres of steep, rugged high-elevation ridges ranging from 3,200 to over 6,400 feet. The area gets its name from the Middle Prong of the Pigeon River finding whose headwaters are located in the area.

Designated as a Wilderness Area in September of 1963, Shining Rock encompasses over 18,000 acres. This area has elevations varying from 3300 to over 6,000 feet, lies on the north slope of the Pisgah Ledge, a northeasterly extension of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and gets its name from the white quartz outcropping near the crest of the Shining Rock Mountain.

There are approximately 51,000 acres of National Forest System lands in Montgomery, Randolph and Davidson Counties. The Uwharrie National Forest includes the Uwharrie Ranger District Office, located at 789 NC Highway 24/27 East, Troy, NC 27371.

At the district office you can obtain information about the area, get brouchures, camping information, trail passes, and permits. You can also obtain a Senior pass, Disabled Pass. We also have USGS Topo maps for sale.

Primitive dispersed camping is allowed throughout the Forest, except in those areas that are posted "No Camping". These sites can be found along most of Forest Service roads and trails. Please remember when using these sites to be careful with camp fires and carry out your trash and debris. Please leave your campsite in good clean condition so that others who follow you may also enjoy the Forest.

The Uwharrie National Forest is part of the 2 million acres of public lands managed by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for public hunting, trapping and fishing, and are designated as Game Lands. In addition to the appropriate basic annual hunting license, a Game Lands Privilege license must be obtained to hunt on the Uwharrie National Forest. Information concerning seasons, bag limits, and special Game Lands Restrictions are found in the annual N.C. Inlands Fishing, Hunting and Trapping Regulations Digest, available where licenses are sold.

Camping and Day-use Information

Enjoy camping or a picnic at one of the many day-use areas. A list of camping and day-use areas in the Uwharrie National Forest can be found here.

Trail Strategy Documents, Presentations and Maps

Be Safe

The national forests in North Carolina offer a wide variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. From the mountains to the sea, there are many exciting adventures awaiting your visit to these national forests. Please keep in mind that all outdoor recreational activities on the Croatan, Pisgah, Nantahala and Uwharrie national forests, including activities at recreation sites, have inherent risks due to the natural setting in which they occur. Always remember, your safety is your responsibility.

Badin Lake OHV Trails close December 18th at 8:00 am

OHV Trails will reopen April 1st in the morning

OHV annual passes will be available from the Uwharrie Ranger District office or the Eldorado Outpost

There are 4 developed campgrounds for tents, camping trailers, & RVs with flush toilets and showers & 1 tent only campground within the Badin Lake Recreation Area. For people that want electricity, flush toilets, showers & a dump station there are 2 campgrounds with these amenities. Arrowhead Campground has 48 sites for the public to use with electrical hookups at sites 12-45. These sites have 50 amp, 30 amp & 110 volt outlets. Sites 1-11 & 46-50 do not have power. Canebrake Horse Camp has 28 sites available to the public. All sites have electrical hookups with 50 amp, 30 amp & 110 volt outlets. This campground has amenities for horse use but is not exclusive to horseback riders. Some of these horse amenities are a horse washing station, hitching posts, tack tables & direct access to the trails.

Badin Lake Campground offers 34 sites for tent, camping trailer or RV camping. There are several campsites on the lakeshore of Badin Lake, which can be accessed via boat, canoe, or kayak. This campground offers flush toilets, showers & drinking water hydrants. There is no electricity and no dump station at this campground. Badin Lake Group Camp offers 3 sites for up to 50 people each. There are flush toilets, vault toilets, showers & 3 drinking water hydrants. There are no electrical hookups and there is no dump station. This campground is available by reservation only. To make reservations for any of the above listed campgrounds please call Recreation.Gov at 877-444-6777; TDD: 877-833-6777; International: 518-885-3639; or go to their website: www.recreation.gov.

The last campground in the Badin Lake Recreation Area is called Uwharrie Hunt Camp. This campground is rustic & it has 8 tent only campsites that can be accessed by a very short walk from the parking lot. There are 2 vault toilets & drinking water hydrants. Each site has a tent pad, picnic table, fire ring, grill, & lantern post.

Recreating in the Badin Lake Recreation Area

The Badin Lake Recreation Area offers a myriad of recreational opportunities. There are 17 miles of Off-Highway Vehicle (OHV) or motorized trails available for dirt bikes, ATVs, and full-sized 4-WD vehicles with the purchase of a trail pass. Primitive camping or dispersed camping can be done along the trails & at the Art Lilley Campground that is located in the Badin Lake OHV Trail Complex.

Additionally, there are approximately 40 miles of non-motorized trails available for horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking. These trails range from easy to difficult as they traverse beautifully wooded areas, rocky outcrops, follow the Uwharrie River & many of its tributaries.

The Cove Boat Launch is located on Cove Road near Arrowhead Campground & offers access to Badin Lake for trailered boats. There is a vault toilet. There are 2 day use areas for picnicking & fishing. The King's Mt. Point Day Use Area offers 34 picnic sites, a picnic pavilion, 4 accessible fishing piers and 4 vault toilets & 2 flush toilets. Holt's Picnic Area is more rustic with a vault toilet, fishing from the shore, grills & picnic tables available.

The Birkhead Mountains Wilderness was established by the 1984 North Carolina Wilderness Act. The goals are to protect and preserve its natural resources and wilderness character and provide for public use. The Wilderness includes 5,160 acres at the northern end of the Uwharrie Mountains.

These mountains are considered to be the oldest on the North American Continent. Evidence of early Indians dates back over 12,000 years. The Catawba Indians inhabited the area when the Europeans began exploring the region in the late 1600’s. By 1760 settlement had begun in earnest, opened up by the explorers and traders along the Ocaneechi Trail.

The Birkhead family raised a son, John Watson (Watt), who was born in 1858. The 3,000 acres that he acquired over the years were made up of many small tenant farms. Thus the mountain range became known locally as the Birkhead Mountains.

This old plantation is the core of the Wilderness. Remember, as you use the Wilderness, your challenge is to leave no trace of your passing. This will protect and preserve the area as true wilderness. Evidence of early Indians and settlers can often be found. These archeological and historic artifacts and sites hold clues to America's past. If disturbed , a part of our heritage is lost forever. Federal law protects such sites and artifacts on public land. If you discover such remains please leave them undisturbed.

All trails within the Wilderness are designated hiking trails. Travel by horse, motorized vehicle or bicycle is prohibited. A detailed map of the Wilderness is available at the District Ranger’s Office.